Home system, faucet device, control device, faucet system, first server, second server, consumables ordering method, consumables ordering program

Abstract

To provide a home system etc. capable of flexibly changing the ordering form of consumables for housing equipment in accordance with various situations. [Solution] The home system comprises a home appliance having consumables, a first server that records user-related information of users who use the home appliance, and a control device that controls the home appliance and is capable of communicating with the first server, wherein the control device acquires status information that enables the usage status of the consumables of the home appliance to be understood, and the first server acquires the status information from the control device and records it as the user-related information.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a home system, a faucet device, a control device, a faucet system, a first server, a second server, a consumables ordering method, and a consumables ordering program. [Background technology]

[0002] The number of home appliances that can be connected to the Internet is increasing. Smart home systems that utilize home appliances connected to the Internet to provide users with comfortable and convenient functions have been proposed.

[0003] A home system has been proposed that determines when to replace consumables in household equipment connected to the Internet and orders the consumables (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-030831 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in a home system for ordering consumables for home appliances, the home appliances and an EC (Electronic Commerce) server that accepts orders are only connected via a network, making it difficult to flexibly change the ordering method for consumables in cases such as when the EC server is not functioning or when a user wishes to change the EC site.

[0006] In consideration of the above circumstances, the present disclosure aims to provide a home system, a faucet device, a control device, a faucet system, a first server, a second server, a consumables ordering method, and a consumables ordering program that can flexibly change the ordering form of home appliance consumables to suit various situations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A home system according to a first aspect of the present disclosure comprises a home appliance having consumables, a first server that records user-related information of a user who uses the home appliance, and a control device that controls the home appliance and is capable of communicating with the first server, wherein the control device acquires status information that enables the usage status of the consumables of the home appliance to be understood, and the first server acquires the status information from the control device and records it as the user-related information.

[0008] A faucet device according to a second aspect of the present disclosure is a faucet device having consumables, and is controlled by a control device capable of communicating with a first server that records user-related information of a user using the faucet device, and status information that enables understanding of the usage status of the consumables is recorded as the user-related information in the first server through communication between the control device and the first server.

[0009] A control device according to a third aspect of the present disclosure is a control device that controls a home appliance having consumables, acquires status information that enables understanding of the usage status of the consumables in the home appliance, and has the status information acquired by a first server that records the status information as user-related information.

[0010] A first server according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is a first server capable of communicating with a control device that controls a home appliance having a consumable, obtains status information from the control device that enables understanding of the usage status of the consumable, and orders the consumable from a second server based on the obtained status information.

[0011] A second server according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure receives an order for the consumable from a first server that has acquired status information that enables understanding of a usage status of the consumable used in a home appliance having the consumable.

[0012] A consumable ordering method according to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure is a method in which a first server orders consumables for home appliances from a second server, the method obtaining status information that enables understanding of the usage status of the consumables for the home appliances, and ordering the consumables from the second server based on the obtained status information.

[0013] A consumables ordering program according to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure is a program in which a first server orders consumables for home appliances from a second server, acquires status information that enables understanding of the usage status of the consumables for the home appliances, and causes the second server to order the consumables based on the acquired status information. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a home system according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a control device of the home system. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a smartphone in the home system. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the home system. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing another operation of the home system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] A home system 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0016] [Home System 100] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a home system 100. As shown in FIG. The home system 100 includes a household equipment 1, a control device 2, an access point 3, a smartphone 4, a device management server 5, a user management server 6, an EC server 7, and a call center server 8. The access point 3, the smartphone 4, the device management server 5, the user management server 6, the EC server 7, and the call center server 8 are connected via a network NW.

[0017] The network NW may be a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, a private network (LAN) in a building where the home system 100 is installed, or a combination of these. The network NW may be either wired or wireless. Other devices such as an access point may be involved in the communication between the devices.

[0018] [Housing equipment 1] The home equipment 1 is a device installed in the home HO as equipment, such as a water faucet device 1A or a toilet device 1B. The home equipment 1 includes building materials such as shutters, doors, windows, and locks, cameras such as outdoor cameras and indoor cameras, energy management devices such as distribution boards and solar power generation devices, and sensors such as temperature and humidity sensors and human sensors. The home HO to which the home equipment 1 is installed includes buildings not used for living purposes, such as offices, schools, and hospitals. The home equipment 1 has a manual control input mechanism that accepts manual control instructions from a user and a remote control input mechanism that accepts remote control instructions from a control device 2 or the like. For example, the control instructions accepted by the water faucet device 1A are instructions such as water discharge, water stop, temperature adjustment, and flow rate adjustment, and a series of instructions combining these. A home system 100 including the water faucet device 1A as the home equipment 1 is also called a "water faucet system."

[0019] The housing equipment 1 may have consumables. For example, the faucet device 1A has a cartridge, which is a consumable. The faucet device 1A to which the cartridge for reformed water is attached can discharge reformed water.

[0020] [Control device 2] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the control device 2. The control device 2 controls the operation of the household equipment 1. A control device 2 is provided for each household equipment 1. The control device 2 may be provided inside the household equipment 1 and integrated with the household equipment 1. The control device 2 has a control unit 21, a wireless communication unit 22, and a recording unit 23.

[0021] The control unit 21 is a computer capable of executing a program, the computer having a processor such as a CPU, a memory capable of reading a program, a storage unit capable of storing a program and data, and an input / output control unit. The functions of the control unit 21 are realized by the processor executing a program provided to the control unit 21.

[0022] The control unit 21 controls the household equipment 1 based on control instructions acquired via the wireless communication unit 22. The control unit 21 also acquires a usage history (log) of the household equipment 1 and stores the usage history in the recording unit 23 as part of the user-related information. The control unit 21 also acquires status information that allows the usage state of consumables of the household equipment 1 to be understood and stores the status information in the recording unit 23 as part of the user-related information. The control unit 21 also controls the wireless communication unit 22 to wirelessly communicate with the access point 3 and the smartphone 4.

[0023] The wireless communication unit 22 has an antenna and the like, and has a function of communicating via wireless LAN communication WC1 such as WiFi, and a function of communicating via short-range wireless communication WC2 such as BlueTooth (registered trademark) or ZigBee (registered trademark). The wireless communication unit 22 can communicate with the access point 3 via the wireless LAN communication WC1 based on an instruction from the control unit 21. The wireless communication unit 22 can communicate with the wireless communication unit 42 of the smartphone 4 via the short-range wireless communication WC2 based on an instruction from the control unit 21.

[0024] The recording unit 23 includes a recording medium such as a hard disk, a flash memory, etc. The recording unit 23 records a user authentication code 24, user related information 25, and wireless connection information 26.

[0025] The user authentication code 24 is a unique code assigned to a user in the home system 100, and is a code for authenticating the user in the home system 100. The user authentication code 24 is, for example, a combination of a user ID and a password corresponding to the user ID, or a token generated based on the user ID.

[0026] User-related information 25 is information related to a user who uses the household equipment 1. User-related information 25 includes a usage history (log) of the household equipment 1 and status information that enables understanding of the usage state of consumables of the household equipment 1. For example, status information for the faucet device 1A includes the amount of water used and the duration of use of the faucet device 1A.

[0027] The wireless connection information 26 includes wireless connection information required for communicating with the access point 3 via the wireless LAN communication WC1, and is, for example, a combination of a WiFi SSID (Service Set Identifier) ​​and a password corresponding to the SSID.

[0028] The wireless connection information 26 includes wireless connection information necessary for communicating with the smartphone 4 via the short-range wireless communication WC2, such as pairing information for Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0029] [Access Point 3] The access point 3 is installed in a house HO and has a function of communicating via a wireless LAN communication WC1 such as WiFi. The access point 3 communicates with the control device 2 via the wireless LAN communication WC1. The access point 3 also relays communication with the control device 2 via the wireless LAN communication WC1 to the network NW via a gateway GW.

[0030] A plurality of access points 3 may be installed in the house HO. The access point 3 may have a repeater 31 for the wireless LAN communication WC1. The communication between the access point 3 and the control device 2 by the wireless LAN communication WC1 may go through the repeater 31.

[0031] [Smartphone 4] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the smartphone 4. The smartphone 4 is an example of a mobile terminal or a terminal device. The mobile terminal or the terminal device is not limited to the smartphone 4, and may be, for example, a mobile phone, a smart watch, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, etc. The smartphone 4 has a control unit 41, a wireless communication unit 42, a touch panel 43, a camera 44, and a microphone 45.

[0032] The control unit 41 is a computer capable of executing a program, which has a processor such as a CPU, a memory capable of reading a program, a storage unit capable of storing a program and data, and an input / output control unit. The functions of the control unit 41 are realized by the processor executing a program provided to the control unit 41. The program provided to the control unit 41 is also called an application. The control unit 41 controls the wireless communication unit 42, the touch panel 43, the camera 44, and the microphone 45.

[0033] The wireless communication unit 42 has an antenna and the like, and has a function of communicating via short-distance wireless communication WC2 such as BlueTooth (registered trademark) or ZigBee (registered trademark), and a function of communicating via high-speed wireless communication WC3 connectable to a network NW according to a fourth-generation communication standard or a fifth-generation communication standard, etc. The wireless communication unit 42 can communicate with the wireless communication unit 22 of the control device 2 via the short-distance wireless communication WC2 based on an instruction from the control unit 41. The wireless communication unit 42 can communicate with the device management server 5, the user management server 6, the EC server 7, and the call center server 8 via the high-speed wireless communication WC3 connected to a base station and the network NW based on an instruction from the control unit 41.

[0034] The touch panel 43 is, for example, a capacitive touch panel. An input operation input by a user to the touch panel is acquired by the control unit 41. The touch panel 43 displays a display screen based on an instruction from the control unit 41.

[0035] A smart home application AP is installed on the smartphone 4, which is an application that provides comfortable and convenient functions to the user by utilizing the home equipment 1 connected to the network NW.

[0036] The smart home application AP can generate remote control instructions for the household equipment 1. The remote control instructions for the household equipment 1 are acquired by the device management server 5 via the network NW. The wireless communication unit 22 of the control device 2 acquires the remote control instructions for the household equipment 1 via the access point 3. The control unit 21 of the control device 2 controls the household equipment 1 based on the acquired control instructions. The user can remotely operate the household equipment 1 using the smart home application AP whether at home or away from home.

[0037] The smart home application AP has a mechanism for managing consumables for the household equipment 1. The smart home application AP can order the consumables for the household equipment 1 from the EC server 7 after obtaining the user's approval. The smart home application AP can also obtain information on the consumables for the household equipment 1 from the device management server 5 and notify the user. The smart home application AP can also notify the user of the order status and order history of the consumables for the household equipment 1.

[0038] [Device management server 5] The device management server (first server) 5 is composed of, for example, one or more servers, and can be connected to a network NW. The server includes hardware such as a processor such as a CPU, a memory, a recording medium such as a hard disk or a flash memory, and a communication device. The functions of the device management server 5 are realized by a program executed in the processor of the server. The server may be an on-site server, or a cloud server that provides IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), SaaS (Software as a Service), or the like, or may be a server that combines these. In the following description, "server" includes any of the above servers.

[0039] The device management server 5 is a server that manages the household equipment 1. The device management server 5 acquires control instructions for the household equipment 1 generated in the smart home application AP. The control instructions for the household equipment 1 are acquired by the control device 2. The device management server 5 records the control instructions for the household equipment 1 generated by the user as a control instruction history. In addition, the device management server 5 acquires status information from the control device 2 that enables the usage status of consumables of the household equipment 1 to be understood. The device management server 5 records the control instruction history for the household equipment 1 and the status information of the household equipment 1 as user-related information.

[0040] [User management server 6] The user management server 6 is configured, for example, by one or more servers, and is connectable to a network NW. The functions of the user management server 6 are realized by a program executed in a processor of the server.

[0041] The user management server 6 is a server that manages the user authentication code 24. A user of the home system 100 can obtain the user authentication code 24 from the user management server 6. The user authentication code 24 obtained by the user is also recorded in the control device 2 and the device management server 5. The user authentication code 24 obtained by the user is also registered in the smart home application AP of the smartphone 4. A control instruction for the household equipment 1 generated by the user in the smart home application AP is obtained by the device management server 5 and the control device 2 that are associated based on the user authentication code 24.

[0042] [EC Server 7] The EC (Electronic Commerce) server 7 is configured by, for example, one or more servers, and is connectable to a network NW. The functions of the EC server 7 are realized by a program executed in a processor of the server.

[0043] The EC server 7 is a server through which consumables for the household equipment 1 can be ordered. A user can order the consumables for the household equipment 1 using the website of the EC server 7. A user can also order the consumables for the household equipment 1 using a smart home application AP of a smartphone 4. The device management server 5 can also order the consumables based on the acquired status information of the household equipment 1.

[0044] The EC server 7 has an EC ordering server (second server) 7A and an EC web server (third server) 7B. The EC ordering server 7A is a server that accepts orders for consumables for the household equipment 1. The EC ordering server 7A is connected to devices inside the home system 100 such as the device management server 5 and the EC web server 7B, and is not connected to devices outside the home system 100. The EC web server 7B is a web server that accepts orders for consumables for the household equipment 1, is connected to devices outside the home system 100, and is open to the public. An order instruction for consumables for the household equipment 1 made by the EC web server 7B is transmitted to the EC ordering server 7A.

[0045] The EC web server 7B can accept advance user registration by using a smart home application AP or the like. The EC web server 7B may use a user authentication code 24 in authenticating a user in advance user registration. By advance user registration on the EC web server 7B, the user can omit inputting user information when ordering consumables for the home equipment 1 on the EC web server 7B. Furthermore, by advance user registration on the EC web server 7B, the user can use known means for ensuring security, and can order consumables for the home equipment 1 with high security.

[0046] A user can use the smart home application AP to place an order for consumables for the household equipment 1 with the EC web server 7B. Also, a user can place an order for consumables for the household equipment 1 on the website of the EC web server 7B.

[0047] [Call center server 8] The call center server 8 is composed of, for example, one or more servers and can be connected to the network NW. The call center is an equipment supplier that receives inquiries about the housing equipment 1 from users by telephone or the like. The functions of the call center server 8 are realized by a program executed in the processor of the server.

[0048] The call center server 8 is a server installed in the call center of the housing equipment 1. The call center server 8 acquires the usage history (log) of the housing equipment 1 via the network NW. The call center operator uses the usage history (log) acquired by the call center server 8 when responding to inquiries from users by telephone or the like.

[0049] Two or more of the device management server 5, the user management server 6, the EC server 7, and the call center server 8 may be the same server.

[0050] Next, a description will be given of the operation of the home system 100. Hereinafter, the operation of the home system 100 will be described with reference to a sequence diagram of the home system 100 shown in FIG.

[0051] The control device 2 acquires status information that enables understanding of the usage state of consumables in the household equipment 1. For example, the status information for the faucet device 1A includes the amount of water used and the usage time of the faucet device 1A.

[0052] In step S100, the device management server 5 acquires status information from the control device 2. The device management server 5 acquires status information from the control device 2, for example, periodically or as needed.

[0053] In step S110, the device management server 5 records the status information of the household equipment 1 as user-related information. Even if the status information of the household equipment 1 is mistakenly erased, the status information of the household equipment 1 is recorded in the device management server 5.

[0054] In step S120, the device management server 5 determines whether or not it is necessary to order consumables for the housing equipment 1 based on the status information of the housing equipment 1. For example, if the amount of water usage in the status information for the faucet device 1A exceeds a predetermined amount or if the usage time of the faucet device 1A exceeds a predetermined time, the device management server 5 determines that it is necessary to order cartridges, which are consumables for the faucet device 1A. If it is necessary to order consumables for the housing equipment 1, the device management server 5 then performs step S130.

[0055] In step S130, the equipment management server 5 issues an order to the EC ordering server 7A for the consumables for the household equipment 1. The ordered consumables for the household equipment 1 are delivered to the house HO of the user.

[0056] User status information is recorded in the device management server 5, and only the minimum information required for ordering consumables is transmitted to the EC ordering server 7A. Therefore, private user-related information such as user status information is not leaked to the EC server 7.

[0057] The device management server 5 that executes the recording process of status information and the EC ordering server 7A that executes the ordering process of consumables are separate. Therefore, the recording process of status information and the ordering process of consumables are carried out in a distributed manner, which prevents these processes from being concentrated on one server.

[0058] The device management server 5 that executes the recording process of the status information and the EC ordering server 7A that executes the ordering process of the consumables are separate. Therefore, when there are multiple EC ordering servers 7A, the device management server 5 can select other EC order Server 7 A (Part two server) can be easily changed.

[0059] Next, another operation of the home system 100 will be described with reference to a sequence diagram of the home system 100 shown in Fig. 5. Steps S100 to S130 are the same as the operation of the home system 100 shown in Fig. 4.

[0060] In step S130, the equipment management server 5 places an order with the EC ordering server 7A for consumables for the housing equipment 1. However, it is assumed that the order for the consumables cannot be placed with the EC ordering server 7A due to a malfunction of the EC ordering server 7A or a communication error.

[0061] In step S140, the user management server 6 reports an error in ordering the consumables to the EC ordering server 7A to the smart home application AP of the smartphone 4 associated with the user based on the user authentication code 24. The error in ordering the consumables is an example of information that prompts the user to order the consumables.

[0062] In step S150, the smart home application AP, after obtaining the user's approval, places an order for consumables for the household equipment 1 with the EC web server 7B. Even if it is not possible to order consumables from the EC ordering server 7A due to a malfunction of the EC ordering server 7A, the user can grasp the situation through the smart home application AP and order the consumables themselves as necessary.

[0063] By registering in advance with the EC Web server 7B, the user can omit inputting user information when ordering consumables for the household equipment 1 on the EC Web server 7B. Furthermore, by registering in advance with the EC Web server 7B, the user can use known means for ensuring security, and can order consumables for the household equipment 1 with a high level of security ensured.

[0064] According to the home system 100 of this embodiment, the ordering form of consumables for the housing equipment 1 can be flexibly changed according to various situations. Even if the device management server 5 cannot order consumables from the EC ordering server 7A, the user can grasp the situation with the smart home application AP and order the consumables by himself / herself as necessary. The device management server 5 that executes the recording process of the status information and the EC ordering server 7A that executes the ordering process of the consumables are separated. Therefore, private user-related information such as the user's status information can be protected. Furthermore, when there are multiple EC ordering servers 7A, the device management server 5 can easily change the ordering destination of the consumables.

[0065] Although one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and design modifications and the like within the scope of the present disclosure are also included. In addition, the components shown in the above-mentioned embodiment and modified examples can be appropriately combined to configure the present disclosure.

[0066] The programs of the control device 2 and the like are recorded in a computer-readable recording medium. The programs recorded in the recording medium are read into the computer system and executed. The term "computer system" as used herein includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. The term "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, optical magnetic disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, and storage devices such as hard disks built into the computer system. The term "computer-readable recording medium" may also include those that dynamically hold a program for a short period of time, such as a communication line when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, and those that hold a program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory inside a computer system that is a server or client in such a case. The above-mentioned program may be for realizing a part of the above-mentioned functions, or may be capable of realizing the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system, or may be realized using a programmable logic device such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 100...home system, AP...smart home application, 1...home equipment, 2...control device, 21...control unit, 22...wireless communication unit, 23...recording unit, 24...user authentication code, 25...user-related information, 26...wireless connection information, 28...information protection unit, 29...communication initialization unit, 3...access point, 4...smartphone, 5...device management server, 6...user management server, 7...EC server, 8...call center server

Claims

1. A home appliance having a consumable item; a first server that records user-related information of a user who uses the household equipment and is capable of communicating with a second server that accepts orders for the consumables; A control device that controls the household equipment and is capable of communicating with the first server; Equipped with The control device acquires status information that allows the control device to grasp a usage state of the consumables of the household equipment, The first server acquires the status information from the control device and records it as the user-related information; the first server orders the consumables from the second server based on the acquired status information; The first server regulates acquisition of the user-related information by the second server. Home system.

2. Further comprising the second server. The home system of claim 1 .

3. A home appliance having consumables; a first server that records user-related information of a user who uses the household equipment and is capable of communicating with a second server that accepts orders for the consumables; A control device that controls the household equipment and is capable of communicating with the first server; A terminal device used by the user; Equipped with The control device acquires status information that allows the control device to grasp a usage state of the consumables of the household equipment, The first server acquires the status information from the control device and records it as the user-related information; the first server orders the consumables from the second server based on the acquired status information; the terminal device acquires history information regarding orders of the consumables by the first server; Home system.

4. Further comprising the second server. The home system according to claim 3.

5. The first server acquires a control instruction for the household equipment from the terminal device, The control device acquires the control instruction from the first server, The control device controls the household equipment based on the control instruction. The home system according to claim 3.

6. the terminal device is capable of communicating with the second server; when the first server is unable to order the consumable from the second server, the first server transmits information to the terminal device prompting the terminal device to order the consumable. The home system according to claim 3.

7. A third server capable of communicating with the first server, The third server is capable of receiving an order for the consumables; The first server can select an ordering destination of the consumables from the second server and the third server. The home system according to claim 2 or 4.

8. The housing equipment is a water faucet device. A home system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. The status information is the amount of water used in the faucet device. The home system according to claim 8.

10. The status information is the usage time of the faucet device. The home system according to claim 8.

11. A first server capable of communicating with a control device that controls a household appliance having a consumable item, acquiring status information from the control device that allows a usage state of the consumables to be understood; ordering the consumables from a second server based on the acquired status information; restricting acquisition of the status information by the second server; First server.

12. receiving an order for the consumables from a first server that has acquired status information that allows a usage state of the consumables used in a household equipment having the consumables to be understood; Acquisition of the status information from the first server is restricted. Second server.

13. A method for ordering consumables for home equipment from a first server to a second server, comprising: acquiring status information that allows one to grasp a usage state of the consumables of the household equipment; ordering the consumables from the second server based on the acquired status information; restricting acquisition of the status information by the second server; How to order consumables.

14. A program for a first server to order consumables for home equipment from a second server, acquiring status information that allows a usage state of the consumables of the household equipment to be understood; ordering the consumables from the second server based on the acquired status information; restricting acquisition of the status information by the second server; Consumables ordering program.

15. A first server capable of communicating with a control device for controlling a household equipment having a consumable item and a terminal device used by a user, acquiring status information from the control device that allows a usage state of the consumables to be understood; ordering the consumables from a second server based on the acquired status information; causing the terminal device to acquire history information relating to orders for the consumables; First server.

16. A method for ordering consumables for home equipment from a first server to a second server, comprising: acquiring status information that allows one to grasp a usage state of the consumables of the household equipment; ordering the consumables from the second server based on the acquired status information; acquiring history information regarding orders for the consumables on a terminal device used by the user; How to order consumables.

17. A program for a first server to order consumables for home equipment from a second server, acquiring status information that allows a usage state of the consumables of the household equipment to be understood; ordering the consumables from the second server based on the acquired status information; acquiring history information regarding orders for the consumables on a terminal device used by the user; Consumables ordering program.

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